Combined table and easel.



No. 677,215. Patnted June 25, I901.

. w. c. HUEBNEB.

COMBINED TABLE AND EASEL.

(Application filed Km. 27, 1901.) Y

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(Ila Iodei.)

lamx No. 677,216. Patenfed June 25, I91". W. G. HUEBNEB.

COMBINED TABLE AND EASEL.

(A lication filed Mar. 27, 1901.)

2 Shaets-8heet 2.

(No Model.)

az yeryz n, W n-11M CJ'IUEBAIER I NrTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM C. HUEBNER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

COMBINED TABLE AND EASEL;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,216, dated June 25, 1901.

Application filed March 27, 1901. Serial No- 53,053. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. HUEBNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Table and Easel; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,- and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in combined tables and easels, and more particularly to those which are so constructed as to enable them to be collapsible into a small compass.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a light yet perfectly stable structure which can not only be employed as an easel, but which can serve equally well as a table, not only for drafting, but for ordinary purposes as well; second, to provide fora quick and easy adjustment of the table when used for drafting purposes, both as to inclination and height, either separately or in combination; third, to provide for the adjustment of the easel with respect to the angle of inclination to the table, in conjunction with the adjustability of the table, both as to inclina tion and height, and, fourth, to provide for the ready and compact collapsing of the easel with the table and of the supports and adj ustable braces with the already-collapsed easel and table. To these ends my invention consists of certain arrangements and combinations of parts, which will be fully hereinafter described,and pointed out in the claims.

. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device, illustrating the various adjustments of the parts. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts collapsed. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isadetached detail in perspective, illustrating the adjustment of the easel portion. Fig. 5 is a front elevation illustrating the use of my improved device as an ordinary table. Fig. 6 is a side elevation illustrating the adj ustability as to height of my improved device when used as a drafting-table. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detached detail in perspective of the easel portion. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of Fig. 7, taken in the line a: so; and Fig. 9 is a detached detail showing a locking device for the braces.

Referring to the drawings, the lower open frame, of rectangular configuration, consists of the front bar 1, rear bar 2, and the two side bars 3 3. Vithin the lower open frame and adjacent to and parallel with the side bars 3 3 are the inner bars 4 t. At the front ends of the inner bars 44 and on the outer side thereof are pivoted the notched ad justing-arms 5 5. At the front ends of the bars 3 3 and on their inner sides are pivoted the arms 6 6, each provided with a pin 7 near its outer end. About midway of the length of the arms 6 6 are pivoted the auxiliary notched arms 8 8. The upper open frame, of rectangular configuration and of the same size as the lower open frame, consists of the front bar 9, rear bar 10, and side bars 11 11 and is hinged at its front side to the front side of the lower open frame. At the rear end of the side bars 11 11 and on their inner sides are pivoted the notched arms 12 12, adapted for adjustable engagement with the pins 7 upon the arms 6 6. Along the inner side of the front bar 9 of the upper open frame is hinged the rest 13, which can be swung up on top of the bar 9 when in operation. Centrally arranged within the upper open frame are the two cross-bars 14 14, each provided with two notches 15 15. (See Fig. .t.)

The auxiliary easel-frame consists of the side bars 16 16, pivoted at their lower ends to the cross-bars 14: 14 on the outer sides thereof and near their forward ends. 0

17 is the upper cross-bar, secured between the side bars 16 16 and provided -with the notches 18 18, which register with the rear notches 15 15 on the cross-bars 14E let.

19 is the lower cross-bar, secured between 5 the side bars 16 16 and provided with the notches 20 20, which register with the forward notches 15 15 on the cross-bars 14: 14 to enable the auxiliary easel-frame to lie flush with the upper open frame when collapsed 10o thereon.

21 is a cross-piece centrally secured to the cross-bars 17 19 and extending above the cross-bar 17 to the height of the side bars 16 16.

In the beveled groove 22 (see Figs. 7 and 8) rests the elongated shank 23, and 24 is the keeper, which is pivoted to the upper end of the shank 23. This shank 23 has sung sliding engagement with the beveled groove 22 to adjust the height ofthe keeper 24. A channeled block 25, to which is hinged the channeled rest 26, loosely surrounds the crosspiece 21, having sliding longitudinal engagement thereon to determine the position of the rest 26, which is locked in such position by the thumb-screw 27, which passes through the channeled block 25 and has locking engagement with the cross-piece 21. (See Fig. 8.)

\Vhen the easel-frame is collapsed upon the upper open frame, the block 25 and rest 26 are slid forward against the inner side of the lower cross-bar 19 and the hinged rest is turned over into the recess 28 in the crosspiece 21, (see Fig. 7,) where it lies flush with its upper side.

36 36 are notched adjusting-arms pivoted upon the side bars 16 16 of the easel-frame and adapted for engagement with pins 37 upon the cross-bars 14 1st of the upper open frame.

29 29 are the longer legs, which are hinged forward of the rear ends of the inner bars t 4 of the lower open frame. 30 30 are pins on these legs 29 29, adapted for locking engagement with the notched adjusting-arms 5 5,

pivoted to the lower open frame at its forward end.

31 31 are cross-braces rigidly secured between the legs 29 29.

The shorter legs 32 32 are hinged to the longer legs 29 29 a short distance below their upper ends and are provided with the pins 33 33, adapted for locking engagement with the notched adjusting-arms 31 34, pivoted to the longer legs 29 29 below the central points in their lengths, and 35 35 are cross-braces rigidly secured between the legs 32 32.

The object of hinging the lower legs 29 29 forward of the rear end of the lower open frame and the shorter legs 32 32 to the longer legs 29 29, below their upper ends, and providing the adjusting-arms 5, hinged to the front end of the lower open frame, is to give to the structure in all of its adjusted positions a stability which is not present or possible with any of the forms of collapsible and adjustable tables now in use.

To prevent the accidental disengagement of the notched adjusting-arms with the pins, and thereby secure more reliable stability, I have provided (see Fig. 9) a locking-cam 38, shown pivoted to one of the shorter legs 32 and adapted to be swung down upon the notched adjusting-arm 34. after its engagement with the locking-pin 33 upon the leg 32. This cam is moved in and out of engagement by the ridge 39 upon the outer face of the cam. One of these cams 38 is employed to lock any of the notched arms wherever they are employed for purposes of adjustment.

In operation Fig. 1 illustrates practically the highest position in which the easel-frame can be secured. This is accomplished as follows: The lower open frame is thrown to its highest angular position by the engagement of the last notch in the arms 5 5 with the pins 30 30 on the legs 29 29. The upper open frame is thrown up and held in a practically Vertical position by raising the arms 6 6 and engaging the pins 7 7 thereon in notches in the arms 12 12. At the same time the notched arms 8 8 are swung down and engaged with pins on the inner side of the side bars 3 3 of the lower open frame. In this elevated position of the upper open frame the rest 13 can be swung out, and upon the rest a drafting board or canvas may be held with the assistance of the keeper 24, which can be pushed down upon the upper edge of the board or canvas. A smaller board or canvas may be similarly held upon the adjustable rest 26 in the easel-frame. (See Fig. 7.)

In Fig. 4 the easel-frame is shown adjusted at an angle to the upper open frame, which is practically in a horizontal position. This is accomplished by lifting up the pivoted easel to the angle shown and securing it in that position by the engagement of the notched arms 36 36 with the pins 37 on the cross-bars 14 14.

In Fig. 5 my improved device is shown arranged for use as an ordinary table, the upper and lower open frames being closed together and the easel-frame and all of the notched adjusting-arms being collapsed within the frame. Any sized board can be laid upon these collapsed frames, to be used for any purpose desired.

In Fig. 6 the manner of raising the level of the table is illustrated. This is accomplished as follows: The notched arms 5 5 are raised a sufficient number of notches to elevate the front end of the lower open frame. The upper open frame is then raised to a level posi tion by adjusting the notched arms 12 12, as shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 2 is aview illustrating the manner of collapsing the various parts of my device, which is accomplished as follows: The two open frames and their various parts collapsed therein are folded together. In this position they are swung down upon the longer legs 29 29, the notched arms 34 34B are swung into position alongside of the legs 29 29, and the shorter legs 32 32 are swungin against the legs 29 29,all as clearlyshown in Fig. 2. The two open frames are locked together, as shown in Fig. 3, (which is a top plan View of Fig. 2,) by sliding the shank 23 into engagement with the beveled groove 40 (see Fig. 4) in the rear bar 10 of the upper open frame and then swinging the keeper 2% around and into engagement with a recess in the rear bar 2 of the lower open frame.

I claim-- 1. A combined collapsible table and easel,

consisting essentially of two open frames hinged to each other, means for adjusting and holding such frames at any desired angle, one with the other, longer legs hinged forward of the rear end of the lower open frame, shorter legs hinged to the longer legs below their upper ends, adjusting-arms hinged to the front end of the lower open frame, and adapted for adjustable engagement with the longer legs, below the hinged junction of the shorter legs, and arms hinged to the longer.

legs and adapted for adjustable engagement with the shorter legs substantially as and for the purpose stated.

2. A combined collapsible table and easel, consisting essentially of two open frames hinged to each other, means for adjusting and holding such frames at any desired angle, one with the other, an auxiliary easel-frame pivoted to the upper open frame, means for adjusting and holding the easel-frame at anydesired angle with the upper open frame, longer legs hinged forward of the rear end of the lower open frame, shorter legs hinged to the longer legs below their upper ends, adjusting-arms hinged to the front end of the lower open frame, and adapted for adjustable engagement with the longer. legs, below the hinged junction of the shorter legs, and arms hinged to the longer legs and adapted for adjustable engagement with the shorter legs substantially as and for the purpose stated.

3. A combined collapsible table and easel, consisting essentially of two open frames hinged to each other, means for adjusting and holding such frames at any desired angle one with the other, an auxiliary easel-frame pivoted to the upper open frame, means for adjusting and holding the easel-frame at any desired angle with the upper open frame, adjustable holding devices attached to and operating with the auxiliary easel-frame, longer legs hinged forward of the rear end of the lower open frame, shorter legs hinged to the longer legs below their upper ends, adjusting-arms hinged to the front end of the lower open frame, and adapted for adjustable engagement with the longer legs, below the hinged junction of the shorter legs, and arms hinged to the longer legs and adapted for adjustable engagement with the shorter legs substantially as and for the purpose stated.

4. A combined collapsible table and easel, consisting essentially of two open frames hinged to each other, means collapsible within the open frames, for adjusting and holding such frames at any desired angle, one with the other, longer legs hinged forward of the rear end of the lower open frame, shorter legs hinged to the longer legs below their upper ends, adjusting-arms hinged to the front end of the lower open frame, and adapted for adjustable engagement with the longer legs, below the hinged junction of the shorter legs, and arms hinged to the longer legs and adapted for adjustable engagementwith the shorter legs substantially as and for the purpose stated. a

5. A combined collapsible table and easel, consisting essentially of two open frames hinged to each other, means collapsible within the open frames for adjusting and holding such frames at any desired angle, one with the other, an auxiliary easel-frame pivoted to the upper open frame, means collapsible within the auxiliary easel-frame for adjusting and holding the easel-frame at any desired angle with the upper open frame, longer legs hinged forward of the rear end of the lower open frame, shorter legs hinged to the longer legs below their upper ends, adjusting-arms hinged to the front end of the lower open frame, and adapted for adjustable engagement with the longer legs, below the hinged junction of the shorter legs, and arms hinged to the longer legs and adapted for adjustable engagement with the shorter legs substantially as and for the purpose stated.

6. A combined collapsible table and easel, consisting essentially of two open frames hinged to each other, means collapsible within the open frames for adjusting and holding such frames at any desired angle, one with the other, an auxiliary easel-frame pivoted to the upper open frame, means collapsible within the auxiliary easel-frame for adjusting and. holding the easel-frame at any desired angle with the upper open frame, adjustable holding devices attached to and operating with, and collapsible within the auxiliary easel-frame, longer legs hinged forward of the rear end of the lower open frame, shorter legs hinged to the longer legs below their upper ends, adjusting-arms hinged to the front end of the lower open frame, and adapted for ad justable engagement with the longer legs, below the hinged junction of the shorter legs, and arms hinged to the longer legs and adapted for adjustable engagement with the shorter legs substantially as and for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

XVILLIAM C. HUEBNER.

Witnesses:

G. A. HAIST, WVILBEB. CRANE.

IIO 

